The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-03-18
SELECT STORY.
A CHASTITY WEDDING GUEST.

10 DO people, IN quiet routine OF country
existence.
When still mere boy in years be
had formed mai infatuation for the
daughter of a widow whose husband
had been of excellent connections. So
cially and financially, in the gray capi-
tai, but who, overtaken by misfortune,
had retired to Auteuil to find himself
deserted alike by his former financial
and social friends. His pecuniary EN-
barrassment, together with his sudden
retirement from active pursuits, had
proved too much for his apparently
excellent physique, and he soon broke
down under the strain and constant
brooding, and Madam Vaupil found
herself a widow and Mademoiselle Julie
an orphan.
Madam Vaupil was then thrown
upon the care of wealthy uncle in
Paris who continued to provide for heI
and educated Julie.
The attachment between mother and
daughter was touching. They seemed
never so happy as when iu each Others
company.
Chance had thrown Henri and Julie
together, and.in their youthful wander.
ings through fields and by-ways they
had seen much of each other.
The fondness which at first cbarac.
terized Henri's feeling toward Julie
soon, by their constant associations,
ripened into love, and Henri, at the
age of 20, found himself madly infat.
uated with the charming Julie.
This feeling Of love was returned by
the young girl, and Madam Vaupil
seemed overjoyed at the happiness Of
her child.
The young lovers never tired OF re-
lating to each other bright dreams for
the future and building grand castles
wherein they should take their abode
when they should become one From
these dreams came harsh awakening.
One day Julie came TO her lover shaken
with grief, to tell him that they must
part.
Her good uncle, who had 80 kindly
provided for her mother and herself,
had died.
Madam Vaupil, as his only heiress,
must leave at once for Paris to take
charge of his effects and receive the
large fortune that his death had en-
tailed.
Sad was their parting, yet their grief
was somewhat assuaged by mutual
promise that they would correspond
each day.
Soon the mother and daughter were
ensconced in the house of the late
uncle.
Splendor reigned on every side aud
the hopes and ambitions of former days
were awakened from their slamber in
the heart of Madam Vaupil. Then,
her ambition was for the advancement
of her husband. Now, her daughter
was the object of her constant thought.
Gradually the letters from Henri,
which she had awaited with almost the
same impatience as her daughter, were
received by her with indifference.
By degrees his name, which was al
ways on her child's lips, would cause
the smile on her face to disappear and
a cloud to cross the surface of her ma
ternal brow.
The loving child in the ecstacy of
her love for tie absent Henri, did not
notice the change that was being
in the mind of her mother
The period of mourning being
passed, Madam Vaupil began to give
thought as to when her charming
daughter should make her entrance in
that society in which she Lad moved
in the financial downfall of her hus-
band. ....f.r..
1t came, and although mademoiselle's
debut was success, she received the
oft-repeated batteries with indifference,
her whole soul being wrapt in the love
that went out to her early life over
whicd was spread the soft and ingratu-
lating perfume of country fields and
flowers.
Among the hosts of friends that
paid homage to Madam Vaupil and
her daughter was one who received
special and affectionate welcomes from
madam. Monsieur Boutegat, wealthy
banker, was the individual. About 40,
handsome in person and polished in
manner, he would be likely to cause a
tbrob in any maternal heart at the pros
pect of having such man for son
in-law.
In the innocent heart of Julie not
the lightest glimmer of her mothers
growing determination cast Its shadow.
She still continued TO write to Henri,
and in proportion to the length of time
that had elapsed since she had been
from her lover, SO her tender
heart yearned to have him near her.
The inevitable rupture between
mother and daughter soon came.
One morning Madame Vaupil came
upon Julie as she sat in her room ver-
lily devouring letter which she held
in her hand. On being asked by her
mother from whom it was, she answered
from Henri. This, together with the
intentness with which Julie had been
reading the epistle and the Indifference
she displayed toward Monsieur Bopte-
gat, seemed to arouse the slumberlng
ire of madam. Ia excited tones she
asked her daughter why she wasted
her thoughts with such an uncouth
country lad when she could ba> Q her
choice from the ranks of wealth aud
society. Was not Monsieur Boutegat
an excellent gentleman Why did
she treat his attentions with such indif
ferencei At last light dawned upon
the mind of the confding girl.
The worst was yet to come, how
ever.
Upon Julie telling her mother that
could sever the love that she
bore for Henri, madam, to the utter
horror of the girl, flew inio towering
passion and forbade her daughter
writing further to the youth at Au-
teuil.
Although 1t almost broke her heart,
Julie obeyed the command of her
mother.
Months rolled on and Heuri's letters,
a greater interval elapsing between
each, ceased.
Monsieur Boutegat continued to
press his suit aud proved himself an